Jobs and Vacancies

John G Winant Visiting Professor (2027-28, 2028-29 and 2029-30)

Rothermere American Institute in association with Balliol College 

The John G Winant Visiting Professorship is an exciting opportunity for highly distinguished researchers working in the field of American government (broadly defined). Applications are now invited for the academic years 2027-28, 2028-29 and 2029-30. The tenure of each professorship is up to one academic year (1 October to 30 June).

The Winant professorship was established in 2000 and is named after Mr John G Winant, a distinguished American public servant and former US Ambassador to the Court of St James during the Second World War. It is based in the Rothermere American Institute (RAI), Oxford’s centre for the study of America and its place in the world, whose mission is to support research in Oxford and beyond, to act as a catalyst for interdisciplinary work and research collaboration, and to engage non-university audiences, all with the aim of improving the scholarly and public understanding of America. The RAI's role as a forum for intellectual exchange is of particular importance for the Winant Professor. Along with the holders of three other established professorships in American History and Politics, you will have the opportunity to give lectures and to hold classes and seminars for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, to participate in conferences and workshops, and to play a full part in the Institute's intellectual life. The Winant Professor will also be a Visiting Fellow of Balliol College during their tenure.

You will be expected to deliver one major public lecture (the Winant Lecture), and to lecture and give instruction in American Government. You will be encouraged to offer informal guidance to graduate research students working in relevant fields. Winant Professors sometimes contribute to the teaching of the Masters level seminar on the government and politics of the U.S.

You will be paid a stipend of £50,000 for the academic year. Most previous holders’ tenure have coincided with sabbatical leave from their home institution. The stipend is therefore intended to supplement rather than replace normal salary, and will be sufficient to cover living costs in Oxford during the period of tenure. Funds are also available to pay for return air travel and visa fees (if applicable), and to convene a small conference, usually held in the spring. Funds are not available, however, to cover accommodation costs. If you will require a visa in order to take up this position in the UK, it will be your responsibility to obtain a visa, although the University will provide advice and assistance as necessary.

The closing date for applications is 12:00 (UK time) on Monday 9 March 2026. Please complete the application form and give details of three referees. You should upload a copy of your CV and a covering letter setting out your research plans and how you would contribute to the activities of the Rothermere American Institute as the Winant Professor. Please also indicate in your covering letter your availability for the three academic years (2027-28, 2028-29 and 2029-30) and any preferences.

For an informal discussion about this post, please contact Professor Adam Smith, Director of the Rothermere American Institute, on +44 (0)1865 282731 or adam.smith@rai.ox.ac.uk.

More information about the job, including how to apply, can be found here.

Rhodes Professorship of American History

History Faculty in association with St Catherine's College

The Faculty of History is seeking applications from leaders in the history of the United States of America, for the position of Rhodes Professor of American History. We are seeking to appoint a historian with an exceptional international profile and an outstanding record in academic leadership, citizenship and collaboration who will maintain and enhance the University’s intellectual reputation in this field.

Oxford provides world-leading research and teaching in American History with a proven track record in successfully educating the next generation of doctoral students whose work will shape the field in the future. The distinction of Oxford’s US historians, the strength of the Vere Harmsworth Library, and the fantastic resource of the Rothermere American Institute (RAI) mean that this is an area of significant and ongoing strategic investment for the University. The Rhodes Professorship of American History plays a key role in making the Faculty a leading international centre for the study of US history. Providing leadership in teaching and research, the Chair will be expected to attract the best graduate students, develop ambitious plans for generating income through donors and research funding, and deliver high-quality impact via, for example, engagement with public audiences or policymakers.

The scope of this Chair covers United States history, including the colonial period, and we would seek to appoint the best candidate in any relevant sub-field. The History Faculty has a core group of academic postholders who teach across United States history from the eighteenth century to the present day, as well as a larger community of historians whose work intersects with the History of the United States. We have existing research strengths in the history of American politics, race, religion, gender, slavery, capitalism, Empire, and the US’s role in the world. We would especially welcome applications from those working on the twentieth century, where there is considerable student demand, or from those whose work offers synergies with other postholders in the Faculty working on Global and Imperial History, Women’s History, and the History of Sexuality, or with the Faculty’s long-standing strengths in modern British and European history and the Bodleian’s archival resources, especially in the Revolutionary era.

The closing date for applications is 12:00 noon UK time on Monday 9 March 2026. Interviews are expected to be held in Oxford on 7 and 8 May 2026.

If you would like to discuss this post and find out more about joining the academic community at Oxford, please contact the Chair of the History Faculty Board, Professor Martin Conway (martin.conway@history.ox.ac.uk) or for specific queries related to the field of American History, Professor Uta Balbier (uta.balbier@history.ox.ac.uk). All enquiries will be treated in strict confidence and will not form part of the selection decision.

More information about the job, including how to apply, can be found here.